Updated version of Logtemp released.

[ericw]

An updated version of LogTemp has just been released.
http://www.mrsoft.fi/ohj01en.htm

[MN]

An updated version of LogTemp has just been released.
http://www.mrsoft.fi/ohj01en.htm

Is it any good?
Have you been using it for a while?
Thinking of using instead of my own VB stuff as I am struggling with hubs.

MN

[ericw]

MN
It really ought to have been called PlotTemp as its forte is to plot temperatures rather than just logging them. It has numerous export facilities for the graphs.

Its free and easy to install and use and judging by other posts in the forum works well for temperature plots.

It will plot things other than temperatures but seems to be designed to interface to HobbyBoards kits isn't configurable for other things.
It only works on 'simple' networks so wont help with your hubs

   

[ericw]

MN
Correction:-   According to the LogTemp web site  DS2409 based hubs are supported

[kristen]

Version 2.23.0.90 released on 11 May 2009

Note that the "Latest release" link in downloads is for the previous version, you need to click on the link in "Version History" to get 2.23.0.90.

http://www.mrsoft.fi/dl/01/logtemp-setup-2-23.exe

Dunno if it was in my earlier version, but I have changed my logging to store as PNG an the graphs are very sharp (I presume JPG was using a lossy compression which made the lines fuzzy through anti-aliasing, despite the fact the graph only uses a small number of colours), and the file size has fallen from >200KB to around 20KB

The temperature in my SysTray is now working, whereas I only ever got "??" before

No other drama during upgrade install.

[StBarnabas]

Version 2.23.0.90 released on 11 May 2009
The temperature in my SysTray is now working, whereas I only ever got "??" before

What operating system are you using? I downladed a version a few weeks ago and stigg get a ?? on one of my XP machines though I now have LogTemp installed on 5 separate machines and am begining to loose track!
Sean

[kristen]

"What operating system are you using"

XP

You need to RightCLick the sensor and choose "Show in SysTray" plus you need to also enable Show : Setup : "Show selected sensor on SysTray"

[StBarnabas]

Kristen
thanks will give it a try
Sean

[martin W]

hi, I might need to start a new threa don this... but here goes.

How quickly, easily, can I get a 1 or 2 sensor 'network' up and running using logtemp and logging temperture?

What do I need to buy? From what I've read for some of the other threads it looks like I need the USB 1 wire adaptor, Logtemp software, 1-wire driver, 1 wire sensor. RJ45 plug and Cat5e cable.

Could someone give me a complete idiots guide of what to buy and how to get it to work? Is it really this simple if I am using a eepc (notebooke, etc) and the logtemp software to log temps?

[StBarnabas]

Hi Martin
It is indeed simple. How far away are the sensors from the PC? What OS are you using, XP or other Windoze or some dialect of Linux?
Sean

[kristen]

Wyleu posted a wiring diagram.  Suggest you adopt that as though went into which wires for power, and which for data etc. (Ref:     
One wire pump sensing thoughts and nice diagrame in the Attaching Temperature Sensors to Pipes thread)

If you want your sensors to be plugable then there is some more work. Wookey found some little circuit boards with Cat-5 network sockets on the end, so can be connected with ordinary Cat-5 network connectors [8P8C / RJ45] and cables (crimp your own, or just buy some ready made) (Ref: Shall I make a largish batch of 1-wire temp sensors?)

The connector on the USB-dongle has a small American-phone style connector [RJ12], so you will need the small-connector [RJ12] to larger Cat-5 network connector [8P8C / RJ45].

But basically you just wire all the sensors in series.  You either need 2 wires or 3 wires.  I think 3 wires is better - one of the wires carries the power.  With two wires the power is carried on the same wire as the data, and the power is toggled on/off to send the signal, and the sensor has a little capacitor built in to keep it alive during the brief power outages (so called parasitic power), but a separate, permanent, power rail is better for long distance cabling and increased sensors as the network grows.

Ideally keep the sensors on a bus cabling layout (all in a straight line), rather than star shaped - star shaped can cause signal reflections that echo down other legs and muck things up.

LogTemp and the 1-wire drivers can be a PITA to get going.  I tried all sorts and then just suddenly it started working.

There is a useful book called Weather Toys about making your own 1-wire Weather station from scratch, including the software; even if you don't propose to do either, but want a good understanding of how it all works, it will serve as a good textbook.

Other reading:

[ur=http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4813.msg47218.html#msg47218l]N00bie with one wire stuff[/url]
Low power one wire newbie
Cheap data logging solution?
1wire ADC for monitoring thermal store temps

Couple of links to some other posts I have made in case helpful:

Has links to LogTemp and various drivers & ancilliaries
My feature list review of LogTemp
Attaching Temperature Sensors to Pipes

(Edit: Added links)

[martin W]

well I'm looking to buy a netbook from fleabay, so its going to be runing windose XP, windows Ce or some sort of linux. To be hones low power and easy of use (logtemp) is my agenda..

I dont mind formating netbook and putting different OS on (or run form memory stick). The only thing the netbook will be used for is runnning the data logging.

Anyone know if windows CE is OK, any netbooks to avoid buying?

[kristen]

Will USB from such a low power laptop keep the 1-write network powered?

I have my USB dongle connected to an external powered hub to avoid any such issue.

Alternative might be a 1-wire button to interrogate the sensors and log the data, and then you could periodically download that.  But I don't know if such a device exists??

[kristen]

"a 1 or 2 sensor 'network' "

Would a weather recording jobie do you?  They usually have a couple of temperature sensors (for inside and out), record data for a while, and then you download when convenient.

Something like this :

http://www.lacrossetechnology.com/8610/

about 40 quid in the UK, although I expect you can find them on eBay

[StBarnabas]

M<Martin
LogTemp works fine under XP. If Linux you might be better off with some Java.
You will need a DS9490R USB 1-Wire adaptor from Homechip :
http://www.homechip.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22&osCsid=1f3adf02a8856e3b6a5c86e499b5ed2c
and two temperature sensors DS18B20
http://www.homechip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=99&osCsid=1f3adf02a8856e3b6a5c86e499b5ed2c
The HomeChip price is not very good for these but if you are only using two you will probably save on P&P

With two sensors you can probably run on parasitic mode so a RJ11 connector will be OK - nearly all old phones have a cable with an RJ11 connector on one end and a BT connector on the other. You hopefully should be able to get one FOC. Just chop off the BT connector and strip off the insulation from the two central wires. These are red and green on my cable - I'm not sure how universal that is.  

If the sensors are not far from the PC you can use almost any form of wire to  connect but twisted pair is best for longer distances cat5 cable is often recommended for this.

In parasitic mode connect pins 1 and 3 of the DS18B20 together and connect these to pin 4 of the DS9490R. Connect pin2 of the  DS18B20 to pin 3 of the DS9490R.

Hope that helps...
Sean